Rich with a rose fragrance, Trillium chloropetalum (Giant Wake Robin) is an incredible beauty with a great garden presence. Poking from the soil in winter, large buds send up stems topped with egg-shaped leaves, slightly mottled with chocolate brown. Resting in their center in early to mid-spring is a large three-petaled flower of white, yellow, or deep purple-black. Long-lived, spreading slowly, and taking several years to form a significant clump, trilliums are worth the wait! Trillium chloropetalum is native to California.

Native to California, Trillium chloropetalum var. giganteum (Giant Wake Robin) is an incredible beauty with a striking garden presence in spring. Poking from the soil in winter, large buds send up stout stems topped with three broadly ovate, lightly marbled leaves. Resting in their center in early to mid-spring is a large three-petaled, lustrous purple-brown flower, 2-4 in. long (5-10 cm). Long-lived, spreading slowly, and taking several years to form a significant clump, trilliums are worth the wait! Fabulous as a groundcover, this Giant Wake Robin is ranked by many as the most impressive species within the Trillium genus.

Trillium cuneatum (Little Sweet Betsy) is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial producing whorls of egg-shaped, prominently-veined, green leaves handsomely marbled with silver. In mid to late spring, stalkless, rich maroon flowers, 3 in. tall (7 cm), appear in the center of the three-leaf whorl. Each blossom has three upright, maroon petals subtended by three smaller green sepals. Usually maroon, the flowers may also be pale brown, clear green or even yellow. They emit a sweet but faint fragrance reminiscent of bananas, hence the common name of Sweet Betsy. Long-lasting, the flowers are followed by berry-like capsules.

Trillium erectum (Red Trillium) is a clump-forming perennial with erect stems clad with a whorl of 3 diamond-shaped leaves. Perched above the leaves is a ravishing, solitary, nodding, crimson flower, up to 2-4 in. across (5-9 cm), adorned with 3 recurved petals in spring. The blossoms are unpleasantly fragrant, producing a scent that attracts pollinating flies. They last about 2-3 weeks and give way to fleshy, berry-like fruit. Birds and mammals feast on them. This Trillium enjoys good garden vigor and becomes a significant flowering clump faster than most other trilliums. The number of flowering stems reflects the size of the plant's rhizome. A large plant can boast 3-5 flowering stems, each with a single flower and 3 leaves.

A handsome and distinctive trillium, Trillium flexipes (Nodding Wakerobin) is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial producing whorls of large, heart-shaped, almost overlapping, green leaves, up to 3-10 in. long and wide (7-25 cm). In mid to late spring, creamy-white outward-facing flowers, 2 in. across (5 cm), appear above the leaves on short stalks which may be drooping or standing erect. Each flower has three large white petals and three narrow green sepals. As the flower ages, its stem bends downward, hiding the flower beneath the leaves. Easy to grow, this charming Trillium is a lovely choice for wildflower gardens or woodland gardens, where it will carpet the ground, regaling those who view it.

Quite showy, Trillium grandiflorum (White Trillium) is a vigorous clump-forming perennial with erect stems clad with a whorl of 3 broadly ovate leaves. From the center of the leaf whorl emerges a solitary, white flower in spring, up to 4 in. across (10 cm), adorned with 3 recurved petals. Long-lasting, the large blossoms turn pale pink as they age and give way to berry-like capsules. Easy to grow, this graceful Trillium is a lovely choice for wildflower gardens or woodland gardens. Perhaps the most popular of all the species.

Trillium grandiflorum f. roseum (Pink Trillium) is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial boasting large, solitary, clear pink flowers, 5 in. across (12 cm), in late spring and early summer. The blossoms are presented wide open above a mound of dark green leaves. Long-lasting, they fade as they age.

An excellent west coast native species, Trillium kurabayashii (Giant Purple Wakerobin) is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial producing whorls of large, egg-shaped, green leaves handsomely marbled with purple and silver. In mid to late spring, rich deep red flowers, 4 in. tall (10 cm), appear in the center of the three-leaf whorl. Easy to grow, this charming Trillium is a lovely choice for wildflower gardens or woodland gardens, where it will carpet the ground, regaling those who view it.

Native primarily to the southeastern and midsouth U.S., Trillium luteum (Wood Lily) is a graceful perennial boasting slightly lemon scented, canary yellow flowers with narrow, upright petals, 2-3 in. long (5-7 cm). Blooming in mid-late spring, they rise atop the center of a three-leaf whorl of lanceolate to rounded, dark green leaves that are often beautifully mottled with pale silvery-green. Trilliums go dormant in summer and will reappear the following spring. This clump-forming perennial grows up to 12-18 in. high and wide (30-45 cm) and will spread slowly if left undisturbed.

Trillium recurvatum (Prairie Trillium) is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial boasting solitary, purple to wine-red flowers, 1.75 in. tall (4 cm), in mid to late spring. The upright blossoms are adorned with 3 recurved petals, their tips converging over the stamens. They are borne atop an unbranched stem and presented above a whorl of 3 large, lanceolate to rounded, dark green leaves. The leaves are especially interesting because of their mottled appearance. This is one of the earliest blooming trilliums.

Noted for its subtle beauty, Trillium sessile (Toadshade) is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial producing whorls of broadly oval, deep green leaves handsomely marbled with pale, silvery green and bronze-maroon. In mid to late spring, stalkless, upright, wine-red to burgundy flowers, 2 in. tall (5 cm), appear in the center of the three-leaf whorl. The petals stand up straight and barely open. This is one of the earliest blooming trilliums.

One of the most attractive woodland Trilliums, Trillium undulatum (Painted Trillium) is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial producing whorls of three broadly oval, basal, blue-green leaves. From mid-spring to early summer, ravishing white flowers, 2 in. across (5 cm), adorned with a splash of pink are borne above the leaves on a short, arching stem. Each flower has three red-edged green sepals and 3 crinkly-edged, white petals with a carmine basal stripe. Easy to grow, this charming Trillium is a lovely choice for wildflower gardens or woodland gardens, where it will carpet the ground, regaling those who view it.